The
direct house training method requires you to be nearby to supervise
and reward good habits from the beginning.
Provide
frequent opportunity to eliminate in an appropriate place and
to reward this behavior immediately as it occurs. To do this,
walk your puppy on a leash at regular intervals. Other methods
may seem easier and may appear to demand less initial investment
of time. The direct training method, however, is sure to save
you time and energy in the long run.
Frequent Opportunities to Go Out
Puppies
require more frequent walks until they are able to reliably control
their sphincters. This usually occurs by 6 months of age. The
best method of house training is to take your puppy out within
several minutes after each meal and each nap. These are predictable
moments during the day when bowel and bladder are most full. A
wave of rhythmic contractions along the length of the digestive
tract (the gastro colic reflex) begins when food or water is swallowed.
The contractions are particularly strong after a puppy eats. Feed
your puppy at scheduled mealtimes and avoid snacks between feedings.
The gastro colic reflex may be conditioned by feeding your puppy
at regular intervals. Allowing your puppy continuous access to
food makes house training more difficult. Prevent "accidents"
between meals by taking your pup out before the accidents occur.
Learning to Walk on a Leash
It
is best to leash walk your puppy within 15 minutes or sooner after
each meal. Continue to walk, incorporating play to make it fun,
until the puppy has eliminated. If your puppy is too young to
walk on a leash, carry it outside to an enclosed, safe area. Stay
nearby and play with or pet it. Additional activity will help
to stimulate bowel movements when your pup is already outside.
Be sure not to distract it, however, if it begins to sniff the
ground or crouch to void. If your pup is slow adjusting to leash
walks, be patient. Avoid pulling the leash and allow your pup
to take its time. When the pup prepares to eliminate, begin praising
it in a happy and light voice. Your tone should be soft and quiet
so your pup won't stop before it is done in response to your over
enthusiastic praise. Continue your praise until the task is completed.
Immediate encouragement is necessary for your pup to learn to
eliminate in an acceptable area. As your dog eliminates, pleasantly
say something like "hurry" or "do it" and give abundant praise.
This teaches the pup to void on command so that you won't freeze
unnecessarily on a cold winter night while the pup leisurely looks
for just the right spot. If your pup is initially afraid of the
leash, leave the leash on indoors for brief periods without holding
onto it. When the pup becomes more accustomed to the collar and
leash, take the pup for brief walks outside. Daily leash walks
throughout a dog's life help maintain good elimination habits.
Avoid Paper Training
Paper
training is not the method of choice, contrary to popular opinion.
Paper training encourages the pup to eliminate on newspapers spread
over the floor in a designated area of the home. This can lead
to several problems.
- The
first is that you may confuse your pup by teaching it twice
what it need learn only once. When, and if, the pup has
learned to void on the newspapers, it must then be retrained
to eliminate outside.
- The
second problem with paper training is that you may unintentionally
teach your pup that it is acceptable to eliminate inside
your home. Though some puppies' stay on the paper, many
more "miss" the boundaries set for them. You may think your
pup clearly understands that it is acceptable to eliminate
anywhere in that room and may begin soling in a variety
of unacceptable area in your home. Some owners of small-breed
dogs prefer to continue paper training throughout the pet's
lifetime, but this should not replace daily walks.
Accidents Will Happen
Puppies
need to learn these skills and need time to physically be able
to control their sphincters. Punishing the pup for accidentally
eliminating in the house and then taking it immediately outside
a common and unfortunate practice. Some owners believe that
pressing the pup's nose into its own waste discourages it. Others
punish by using a stern and loud voice or by hurriedly grabbing
a pup while it is urinating or defecating. Punishment is often
followed by whisking the puppy outside into a big and freighting
world, where the irritated owner impatiently awaits appropriate
behavior. Although this may be intended to teach the puppy not
to eliminate indoors, the puppy may associated the punishment
with going out and may learn to fear going outside. A confused
and frightened pet is even more likely to spontaneously void
when it is threatened! The dog might even learn to fear eliminating
in your presence.
It is pointless
to punish your dog at any age for "accidents" that occur in
your home. This is particularly true when there is any delay
between the act of soiling and your discovery of the mess. To
be effective, punishment (and praise, for that matter) must
follow your pet's action within seconds. Punishment, however,
is not helpful in house training. No matter how frustrated you
may be, clean up the mess and concentrate on the steps to prevent
another one.
Crate Training
Advantages
Crate training
is base on the premise that puppies are unlikely to eliminate
in or near an area used for rest. Crate training is popular
among owners who cannot continually remain nearby to take the
puppy directly outside as described above. Some owners place
the up in a crate while they are away at work or when they will
be absent for short periods of time or even overnight. A puppy
naturally resists voiding inside the crate may eventually adjust
to longer periods of crate confinement when you are absent.
At the least, a crate will contain any messes and can prevent
destructive behavior, too. This method works will for some dogs,
but not for all.
Disadvantages
- Many young puppies are simply unable to control immature
sphincters, especially when they are anxious or frightened.
- Some pups may soil themselves and even ingest their own
waste. For these pups, the direct training method is preferable
and crate training should be abandoned.
- Pups should not be crated for more than 3 or 4 hours at
a time. If you must confine your plans to visit it on your
lunch hour, for example, and go for a nice long walk. If necessary,
ask a neighbor, friend, or relative to help you. If no one
can help you, professional pet sitters are an option until
your pup is an adult. Still, even an adult dog should not
be crated for more than 6 to 8 hours at a stretch.
- Some pups do not tolerate this type of confinement, becoming
very agitated and excessively vocal. If the pup initially
objects to being confined in the crate, you will encourage
undesirable attention-seeking behavior, such as whining or
barking, by visiting or otherwise comforting the crated pup.
Wait a few moments until it is quiet and calm before checking
that all is well. This way, you will not encourage undesirable
behavior nor will you defeat the potential usefulness or the
crate. If your puppy's objections seem excessive or unacceptable
to you, apply other house training techniques instead.
Choosing A Crate
If you choose
to try crate training, begin by selecting a crate that will
accommodate your dog at its anticipated adult size. You (adult)
dog should be able to comfortably stand and turn to change positions
in its crate. If you are purchasing a crate of a large-breed
pup, you may decide to obtain several crates of different sizes
to accommodate your growing pet. If you decide to purchase just
the one for its adult size, you may partition the unused space
and enlarge the available space as the young dog grows. Consult
a veterinarian about your dog's projected maximal growth, particularly
if your pet is not purebred.
A Safe Place
Choose a
crate that is constructed solidly of materials that are easy
to clean and disinfect. In case your pet does panic inside its
crate, the crate must stand up to any escape attempts and not
result in injury because of sharp edges, for example.
To introduce
your dog to the crate, associate the crate with positive things,
such as food and safe shelter. Leave the door open until there
is no sign of fear. Cover a section of the floor with comfortable
and easily laundered bedding, such as a towel or blanket. Play
with your pup, tossing favorite toys into the crate for it to
retrieve. Place food and water in the crate to encourage your
pet to consider it a safe place. This also decreases the likelihood
that your dog will soil inside the cage. When the puppy enters
the crate without hesitation at mealtime, gently close the door
while it eats. Keep the door closed for gradually longer periods.
Let the pup out when it is calm and quiet.
The crate is your dog's special place where it must never be
disturbed or threatened. The crate must not be linked
with punishment or your dog will avoid it. Encourage
your dog to use the crate as a resting place. When the
pup is ready to nap, place it in the crate with a favorite
toy or treat. Never place your pup in the crate or try
to remove it from the crate when you are angry. Do not
reach in and pull your dog out of its crate. A dog that
is threatened in its crate may aggressively resist leaving
it. Teach your dog to willingly leave the crate on your
command, using a simple "come" in a happy tone of voice.
The Umbilical Cord Method
This method
of house training is best used with other techniques detailed
above. Attach your pup to a long leash that is tied to your
wrist or waist. This allows it a certain amount of freedom while
ensuring your constant supervision over its activity. The pup
cannot wander away to have an undetected "accident" and you
can anticipate the pup's need to void, taking it directly outside.
Your pet can also enjoy your extra time and attention. This
will benefit not only its house training, but also the bond
between you and your pet. This method may be applied as an alternative
to overnight crate confinement or isolation in another part
of your home. The pup may be restrained on a 6-foot leash tied
to your be overnight. Although some puppies may have "accidents"
where they sleep, they may be less anxious when their owners
are nearby, and this may positively affect their behavior.
